Fall and Winter Italian Specialties
When the fall and winter holidays arrive, I think back to growing up, and always using what was seasonal. What is seasonal in Italy this time of the year?
The fall and winter bring so many delicious Italian items. The focus is on earthy rustic foods. From olives being collected and prepared to create some of the best extra virgin olive oil around, to picking the last of the fresh figs and drying them to create some of the most creative and beautiful dishes. We also see the use of persimmons and pomegranates. Both seasonal fruits of the winter season that add just the right touch of sweetness to any dessert, cheese plate or appetizer. Another favorite item is the amazing chestnut. So versatile and delicious. It can be simply roasted over and open fire, added to your holiday stuffing, cooked into a beautiful cream for desserts, ground into an earthy flavored gluten free flour to add to any bread recipe, candied for a simple healthy snack, or added to the traditional Italian fruit cake “Panettone”. Any one of these items make for some truly outstanding dishes.
Gluten Free Sourdough Bread for the Holidays
Other seasonal items that are perfect for the holiday season:
Porcini Mushrooms, Wild Mushrooms, Truffles, Escarole, Wild Game, Broccoli Rabe, Sausage, Parmesan Cheese, Hazelnuts, Polenta, Sage, Apples, Blood Oranges, Gorgonzola, Bresaola, Pumpkin, and Dark Chocolate. These are just a few, and in my opinion some of the tastiest!
How do Italian-Americans celebrate Thanksgiving? Well in my house we did the traditional Turkey dinner. We begin with an Antipasto board, followed by Corn Chowder Soup, then the Turkey and all the fixins, ending the meal with fruit, roasted chestnuts and desserts. Other Italian-Americans I know tend to do Lasagna and Prime Rib. We always enjoyed the Turkey ☺
APERITIVO, VINO e DIGESTIVO
For Italians, Cocktails and Wine are just as important as the food for the Holidays. There is no better way to start a holiday gathering than with and Aperitivo. Some of my favorites are a glass of Prosecco, the classic Negroni, Campari Spritz, Averna, Aperol Spritz, Amaro Nonino…just a few to name.
An Italian meal is then always accompanied by either homemade wine or some of the finest Italian wines. Generally, this time of the year you will see the use of red wine more than white. The reason is the foods we eat pair well with red wine. Foods that are full and rich in flavor. I personally love a nice Super Tuscan Blend, Barbera or Barolo to pair up with the holiday meal. But there is one very special wine, that usually makes it way out for a holiday meal…the outstanding AMARONE. It is a very rich, bold red wine, with a very high alcohol content of about 15 percent. This beautiful wine should be decanted (allowing wine to breathe) on average 2- 3 hours before drinking to bring out the best flavor profile of the wine. Amarone is a perfect match for a traditional Italian holiday meal, especially when ending the meal with roasted chestnuts. That sip of the Amarone with a bite of roasted chestnut is truly delectable. I look forward to that pairing every holiday and its worth the wait.
So as you can see we start our meal with an Aperitivo, then move to wine, and then end the meal with a digestivo. These usually consist of liquors like Grappa, Sambuca, Limoncello, and Amaro’s. Italians end the meal with an espresso and or a digestivo, which enhances and stimulates the digesting process.
These drinks all serve a purpose. One is to stimulate the appetite…the Aperitivo. Next is to enhance the flavors of the food, which is the wine. Last, we help stimulate the digestion process with a digestivo. Italians think of everything, and always do it so perfectly… Saluté!
Here are some Holiday Dishes that will please any crowd:
Crostini with whipped ricotta, prosciutto and fig jam
Pumpkin and Sausage Risotto
Escarole and Bean Soup
Chestnut and Sausage Stuffing
Fall Salad with pomegranate seeds, persimmons, arugula topped with a burrata
Broccoli Rabe and Sausage Pizza or Pasta
Orange and Hazelnut Biscotti
My Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipe:
Clara’s GF Sugar Cookies
Clara's Gluten Free Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- Dry Ingredients:
- 1 cup sorghum flour
- 1/3 cup tapioca flour
- 1/3 sweet white rice flour
- 3/4 cup GF oat flour
- 1tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 5 tbsp powdered sugar
- Wet Ingredients:
- 1 stick softened butter
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp vanilla powder
- 5 tbsp water plus 3 tsp whole psyllium husk mix make gel
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix all dry ingredients together.
- In a mixer bowl mix the water and psyllium husk to create a gel, then add butter and eggs. Beat until well blended. Slowly add the dry ingredients until blended.
- Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour
- Preheat oven 375F degrees
- Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper and lightly spray each one
- Roll out dough (not too thin) and cut out your favorite cookie shapes
- Place cookie shapes on the parchment lined cookie sheets
- Bake at 375F degrees for 12-14 until golden on edges
- Cool on wire rack
- Frost with your favorite icing recipe
- ENJOY!